Forestry Civil Engineer

Natural Resources Wales; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organization is looking for a Forestry Civil Engineer to manage forestry infrastructure projects across Wales. The role involves project planning, supervising construction activities, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in civil engineering, project management skills, and a passion for environmental conservation. This position offers competitive benefits, including a generous pension scheme and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Professional development support

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in civil engineering contract management and project planning.
• Knowledge of CDM2015 and construction Health, Safety & Environmental risk management.
• Familiarity with concrete and timber bridge construction techniques.

Responsibilities

• Manage construction, upgrade, and maintenance of forestry network roads.
• Undertake inspections to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
• Monitor budget and assist in financial management for projects.

Skills

Civil engineering contract management

Project planning

Understanding of NEC3/4 contract

Health and Safety risk management

Knowledge of forest road construction

Knowledge of CAD packages

Team management

Experience with tender documents

Education

Membership in a professional body (e.g., ICE)

Tools

AutoCAD

MS Project

Job description

Forestry Civil Engineer

Role ID: 200933

Directorate: Operations

Team: Integrated Engineering South Central

Location: Cardiff - Cathays Park

Grade/Salary range 5: £36,246 - £39,942

Working pattern: Full time

Contract type: Permanent

Closing date: 04/01/2026

The role

Are you ready to take your engineering career to the next level while helping shape the future of Wales' natural environment? This is a fantastic opportunity to play a vital role in delivering Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) forestry objectives across the country. Working alongside experienced professionals, you'll help turn forestry policy into action – supervising NRW teams and contractors to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest environmental standards.

You'll be involved in the planning of future harvesting operations, working closely with stakeholders to balance operational needs with environmental responsibilities. You'll also monitor civil engineering works across Wales' forest estate, supporting both progress tracking and budget management under the NRW civil engineering framework.

As part of a knowledgeable and supportive team of Engineers, you'll collaborate across departments to deliver the annual forestry engineering programme. Reporting to the Forestry Lead Engineer and the Integrated Engineering Team Leader, you'll be part of a dynamic, purpose-driven organisation where your work directly contributes to the health and sustainability of Wales' landscapes.

Whether you're looking to build on your experience or take on a fresh challenge with real-world impact, this role offers the opportunity to grow your skills and make a meaningful difference. As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the Cardiff NRW office and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Mark Davies. Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams week commencing 12 January 2025. Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

About us

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the lead organisation for managing Wales's natural environment. We work to protect people and nature, support sustainable development, and build resilience to climate change. This role sits within our Integrated Engineering team in South Wales Central – a multi-disciplinary group of engineers responsible for delivering forestry infrastructure projects and managing NRW's Flood Risk Maintenance Programme in the region.

Our work helps to safeguard communities, support woodland management, and protect vital infrastructure. We take pride in working collaboratively, solving real-world challenges, and making a lasting impact on the Welsh landscape.

What you will do

• Manage the new construction, upgrade & maintenance of network roads and harvesting facilities for the area within the allocated budget.
• Undertake inspection of roads and footbridges, at specific intervals, ensuring data is forwarded for recording and maintaining records.
• Undertake regular inspections of quarries and borrow pits in line with current regulations. Ensure all health & safety and environmental standards are being applied and meet current requirements. Report any breaches.
• Produce concise and persuasive written drafts, identifying the key issues, examining options and proposing a way ahead.
• Plan, prioritise and organise resources to ensure projects are delivered in line with agreed time, cost and quality standards.
• Make informed decisions but know when to refer upwards for advice.
• Monitor budget and advise engineer of any potential under or over spend.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
• Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
• Required to take part in incident response activities.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method.

1. Experience in civil engineering contract management & project planning & understanding of NEC3/4 form of contract.
2. Knowledge and understanding of CDM2015 and construction Health, Safety & Environmental risk management.
3. Knowledge of forest road construction (wet bound macadam) and of working in a rural/upland environment.
4. Knowledge of concrete and timber bridge construction techniques.
5. Knowledge of Forest and Water Guidelines (V5) and the European Water Framework Directive.
6. Knowledge of the Quarry Regulations (1999) and quarry management procedures.
7. Knowledge of CAD packages such as AutoCAD.
8. Knowledge of MS Project.
9. Knowledge of Project delivery via framework contracts.
10. Knowledge and Experience of managing team/individuals.
11. Experience of compiling tender documents/drawings.
12. Member of professional body e.g. ICE.

Welsh Language Level requirements

Essential: A1 - Entry level

Please note if you do not meet the level A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Benefits

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme)
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
• generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
• commitment to professional development
• health and wellbeing benefits and support
• weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

Please keep reading

We're passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We are committed to equal opportunities and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.

We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.

We are a bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.

You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time.